022
00023
1.
cms
Ref.:
CO 537/1648
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Ins
restrictions Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright
N
In order to facilitate comparison with other reports, I have arranged the record in the form of a diary and in chron- ological order so far as is possible.
Saturday, 6th December. 1941.
2148 hours.
(1).
Instructions were received from the Commodore that Brit- ish and Allied vessels should raise full steam, prepare for sea, and all Masters report at the office of the Naval Control Service. 2153 hours.
(2) All Boarding Officers called out and despatched to carry out the order. The dockyards were informed and requested to pass the word to vessels in their hands, and the appropriate signal was displayed at pre-arranged stations. Hotels and Cinemas offered willing co-operation.
Sunday, 7th December, 1941.
0220 hours.
(1). All vessels duly informed, and confirmation received from the Control Service that the response was most satisfactory.
A.M.
(2).
The staff at Gap Rock Lighthouse were taken off by destroy- er during the forenoon after the equipment had been dismantled. 2400 hours. (3). The Superintendent of Airport was informed by the Military Authorities of impending hostilities.
Notes.
(a). During Saturday night and Sunday approximately thirty vessels left the port. Although several Distress Signals were picked up in HongKong it is reasonable to suppose that the major- ity of the vessels reached temporary ports of refuge. (b). It is quite likely that one or two vessels sailed without clearing in the usual manner, and others might well have entered, bunkered and proceeded without the knowledge of the Harbour Office.
(c). An odd vessel might have been captured off HongKong when converging on the port from the north
e.g. *Ben Nevis".
Monday, 8th December, 1941.
0540 hours.
-
(1). The order to "Take all Precautionary Measures"
was received
from the Central Police Station and the Department placed on war stations. 0600 hours.
(2).
Crew of the Pan-American Clipper warned to depart as early
as possible and C.N.A.C. and Eurasia instructed to disperse their craft around the landing ground. 0800 hours.
(3). Informed of the outbreak of war.
0805 hours.
.
(4). A formation of unidentified aircraft was sighted N.E. of the Airport flying at approximately 15,000 feet on a S.S.E.ly
course.
0807 hours.
(5). Messrs. Morrison and Hillyer proceeded to Aberdeen to clear. the area of junks, etc.
cms
Ref.:
CO 537/1648
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
N
restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet. Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.